Founding Principal

Location:  Dubai, AE

Job ID:  4464

School:  Regional Office (Middle East)

Company:  Nord Anglia Education

FOUNDING PRINCIPAL, NEW NORD ANGLIA EDUCATION SCHOOL IN DUBAI

This is a fantastic opportunity for a forward-thinking, ambitious, and experienced Educator to join our team as the Founding Principal of our new school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Our new school will be a UK curriculum day school enrolling students from Early Years to Year 13. Our new school will have capacity for 2,400 students upon completion. Its first phase of development will be opening in August 2026 with the remaining second phase opening in Summer 2027.

Following the English National Curriculum the school will lead into IGCSE and the A-Level pathways, the school aims to expand quickly and establish itself as another of our market leading schools. You will be responsible for all aspects of managing the school with support from expert teams from across Nord Anglia. You will build and lead an outstanding team that can deliver the best student outcomes when the school welcomes its first cohort in August 2026.

As part of the Nord Anglia Education family of schools, the schools share resources and knowledge within our group of 80+ Nord Anglia schools around the world. Global Campus connects students with other Nord Anglia Education schools based in 33 different countries worldwide. Students are able to extend their international experience through opportunities to learn abroad, connect with more than 90,000 students through our innovative online platform, and to take advantage of exciting experiences and expeditions. Through our collaborations with The Juilliard School, MIT, UNICEF and IMG Academy, we embrace innovation to ensure students and teachers have the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in the future.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

As Principal you will be supported by your peer principals as well as the regional and central NAE teams. In addition, all principals are also enrolled on the NAE Principals In Role Support (PIRS) programme which includes sessions with an executive coach.

ABOUT THE ROLE

This is an exciting opportunity to join us as Founding Principal and member of the NAE Global SLT. You will build the team to ensure our school offers the very best international experience for our students, delivering learning opportunities inside and outside the classroom to an outstanding level for our outstanding students.

You should be familiar with the UK curriculum and experienced in international schooling. We are looking for a proven track-record in school leadership and a strong understanding of and respect for different cultures so that you can confidently work with school leaders, teachers, students and parents with diverse cultural backgrounds. Creativity, motivation, communication skills and adaptability are essential to make a significant impact in this important role.

The successful candidate will lead the schools to:

• Relentlessly pursue outstanding academic performance for all students;
• Strengthen and develop the school’s mission, vision and strategic plan while ensuring the teaching and learning in the school is of the highest quality;
• Support the marketing and admissions process of the school with passion and an adherence to quality, thus ensuring the school remains full and in high demand;
• Develop and lead a culture of professional learning within the teaching body and develop the use of forward-looking technology in teaching and learning;
• Promote our values through the opportunities we offer, the impact we make, the leadership we demonstrate and the respect we know that everyone deserves;
• Ensure the school is a well-organised, efficient and effective hive of purposeful activity from the start to the end of each school day and beyond;
• Build and monitor the necessary teams and systems to run the school effectively.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

The appointed candidate will:

• Possess a creative and pragmatic mind with the ability to lead innovations in teaching and learning and the broader activity of the schools;
• Lead with a strategic and decisive style, suitable for a highly successful school within a competitive environment;
• Demonstrate understanding of how to create and innovative and purposeful curriculum using contemporary international thinking to create a distinctive positioning for the school;
• Be an ambassador and help to build the brand and reputation of the school;
• Demonstrate a flair for developing managerial and educational talent;
• Respect, appreciate and understand a variety of cultures and societies, building strong relationships with all members of the school community;
• Be committed to achieving the best possible outcomes for every student in our care and engage with children, staff and parents to ensure that we identify, understand and meet their educational aims and needs.
• The candidate will also be highly customer-centric, parent-friendly, and charismatic, capable of building trust and rapport with families, particularly during this period of foundation and growth. 
• A charismatic individual, who possesses the vision to inspire the school community, develop meaningful relationships with parents, and gain their confidence as a partner in their children's educational journey.

In return for your passion to deliver the highest quality education you will enjoy a competitive salary, accommodation provided by us, an annual flight allowance, car, health insurance and places in the school for your children.

HOW TO APPLY

We welcome applications from individuals who are passionate about education and have the skills and experience to make a significant impact on our students and school community.

To apply for this role, please include a CV and letter of application and apply via our careers page. 

Applications:            Closing date is 5th January 2025

Interviews:                February 2025

Start Date:                August 2025 (or asap pending availability)

Nord Anglia Education is committed to the safeguarding of children and young people, and any offer of appointment will be subject to a successful medical as well as clearance from safeguarding authorities.

create your future

Please apply online via the Careers Page you can also view all the other opportunities available within the Nord Anglia Education Group. Applications must be made online and should contain a CV and Cover Letter.